The city of Savadkooh which has been created from the composition and development of rural areas in the valley and mountain areas, enjoys a beautiful natural scenery, moderate climate and dense vegetation and has been turned into one of the centers for the attraction of tourists with regard to its sightseeing and historical monuments such as bridges of Veresk and Shahpoor, Caves etc.
……….Tourist Attractions……….
Natural Attractions
Gazoo Waterfall
Gazoo waterfall is located 25Km of Zirab, in the middle of a lush forest, near Emamzadeh "Se- Bozorgvar". It is one the most important tourist attractions of the area.
Shoorab Waterfall
It is located 35Km of south of Pol-e Sefid. Because of transiting from underground sulphurous layers, the water of this spring and waterfall cannot be consumed for drinking; this is why it is called "Shoorab" meaning salty water. Due to the abundant minerals of this water, the place where the water pours down is red and it made a beautiful scene. Shoorab waterfall is a creative tourist attraction containing water and mud believed to have medical purposes. According to the older generation, Russian soldiers used this water and mud as medical purposes during the Second World War.
Deraseleh Tangeh Waterfall
Located 40Km southwest of Zirab, in Valoopei hamlet, 2Km south of Deraseleh village, the mountainous area of Deraseleh enjoys a very pleasant climate.The beautiful waterfall with abundant fresh chilled water creates numerous small and large waterfalls due to the steep terrain along its way. There is another waterfall 1km away from its western edge, at the end of a valley.
Chelak Waterfall
It is located 50Km west of Shirgah, the west end of Lafoor hamlet, in the forest area of Riko and Ghoozak villages. The waterfall pours down of such a high altitude that creates beautiful clouds around where the water hits the rocks.
Miyan-Kola Waterfall
Located 6Km south of Shirgah, 14Km north of Zirab, along the Tehran-Mazandaran road, Miyan-Kola Waterfall is one the most important tourist attractions of the area.
Cherat Waterfall
It is located20Km of Cherat village, in Valoopei hamlet, west of Pol-e Sefid. Due to its unique beautiful natural views and mountainous area, the waterfall is one the most important tourist attractions of Savadkooh.
Selebon (Toonelsi) Waterfall
Located 30Km south of Pol-e Sefid, on the western edge of the Tehran-Mazandaran road, the waterfall enjoys beautiful natural views of mountains and forests.
Kija Chal Cave
This beautiful cave is located on the forest heights overlooking Pitsara village, in Doab of Savadkooh. Featuring a round dome, it has an altitude of 7 meters above the ground level.
Div Leilam Cave
This cave is located in Azad-Mehr village, southwest of Zirab. A number of researchers and historians refer to it as the prison of Keykavoos, the king of the Pishdadian and Kianiyan dynasties of Iran who was imprisoned in the cave by the White Demon and his troops the full description of which is in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh.
Liposht Cave
Famous as Sorkh-Ghar (red cave), it is located in Cherat village, Valoopei hamlet, west of Savadkooh. Its arch-shaped ceiling is decorated with marble-like natural beauty made by dripping water and minerals.
Zangian Cave
Located in zangian village, Valoopei district, it is a 1-kilometre cave. Due to the dripping water and lime, it enjoys beautiful scenery of stalagmites. Some believe that the cave was used as a prison, during the MongolEmpire.
Soot-Shah Cave
It is located on the eastern edge of the Savadkooh road, in front of Doab military base. There are remains of a stepped section made with lime and mortar at the entrance of the cave.
Golnab-Darreh Waterfall: 4Km east of Deraseleh waterfall, Deraseleh village
Shesh-Roodbar Waterfall:near Shesh-Roodbar village, north of Deraseleh village
Gadook Waterfall: Qadamgah Mountain, Arfa‘kooh Peak
Javarem Tourist Area:Zirab-Shirgah road, 23Km of the center of Savadkooh
Andargoli Tourist Area: Shirgah-Qaemshahr road, 40Km of the center of Savadkooh
Tourist Area of Berenjestanak Dam: Shirgah-Qaemshahr road, 50Km of the center of Savadkooh, Berenjestanak village
Tourist Area of Alborz Dam: Shirgah, Lafoor village, 50Km of the center of Savadkooh
Cham-Cham Tourist Area:Savadkooh, 4Km of Pol-e Sefid-Veresk road
Azad-Mehr Tourist Area:Pol-e Sefid to Azad-Mehr road, 6Km of the center of Savadkooh
Emamzadeh Hassan Tourist Area:Alasht, 40Km of the center of Savadkooh
Kamar-Posht Tourist Area:Pol-e Sefid-Veresk road, Kamar-Posht village, 17Km of the center of Savadkooh
Gadook Tourist Area:Gadook district, 50Km of the center of Savadkooh
Tourist Area of Shoor-Mast Lake:Pol-e Sefid, Shoor-Mast village, 6Km of the center of Savadkooh
Veresk Tourist Area:Pol-e Sefid-Gadook road, Veresk village, 30Km of the center of Savadkooh
……….Historical and Cultural Attractions……….
‘Abbas-AbadCastle
Spanning a valley, Veresk Bridge is located in ‘Abbas-Abad district. There are the remains of an ancient castle in this eara. Made of rough stones, plaster, bricks and mortar, it features several towers and rampart. On the evidence obtained so far, it was used in the last centuries.
Qal‘eh Gardan (Castle)
The remains of the ancient castle of Gardan are located in Rastopei hamlet, near the last tunnel of Firuzkooh road, across the Gadook railway. It was made of fired bricks, plasterand mortar.
Alasht Mosque
Jame‘Mosque of Zirab
Located in Zirab city, Jame‘(Congregational) Mosque is decorated with the Islamic art elements. Its ceiling is adorned with wooden carvingsof attractive patterns and the prayer of Sad-Band.
Espahbod Khorshid Cave
This cave is located at the beginning of Khatirkooh road, 2km away from Ravat-sar village.Measuring 80x100 meters, its arched entrance is the largest natural one in the world. On the left side of the cave, a four-story-high castle was built. Made of stones and mortar, it is the masterpiece of architecture of its time.
On the right side of the cave, numerous trenches and defensive buildings were built, all of which remained firm and intact after centuries.
These two parts were connected through a road made of stones and mortar. 2 meters wide, this road was built 50 meters above earth level. Today only traces of it remain. The existence of some foundations, confirm that this cave was surrounded by a raw wall.The remains of a cistern, several silos and numerous defensive monuments are located outside the cave.
Dating back to the end of the Sassanid period, it was regarded as a fortified garrison and a fortress of Tabarestan in the early Islamic centuries.
According to chronicles, this cave was used as a shelter by Khorshid, the last ruler of Tabarestan. But other evidences indicate that it was used until 3rd-4th centuries AH.(Registration No.:7839)
Lajim Tower
Located in Lajim village, in Savadkooh, it is called Emamzadeh ‘Abdollah by the native inhabitants.Dating back to 413 AH, it is the burial place of Abol-Favaress Shahryar Ebn-e ‘Abbas.It is a cylindrical brick construction crowned by a twin-shelled octagonal conical dome. Access to this tomb tower is gained from the east.The exterior facade is decorated with simple moqarnas (stalactites), which was unique in its time.
Two bands of brick inscriptions in Kufic andPahlavi-Sassanid scripts adorn the tomb tower.(Registration No.: 185)
Kangeloo Castle
Located on an isolated mountain, in Rassto-pei hamlet, and made of stones and mortar, the castle is surrounded by tall walls. On the northern and southern sides of the wall, two solid towers were symmetrically built.
Facing to the north and south, the walls are 18.80 meters long and the towers are 7 meters high.
Housing several rooms, the central tower features two arches, which show that it was a two-story-high building. The inner and exterior walls are covered by mortar.According to features of the architecture and the potteries found in it, the castle dates back to the end of the Sassanid period and the early Islamic period. (Registration No.: 2754)
Maziyar Castle, Lafoor
Located on a wooded mountain, in Lafoor hamlet, near Lafoorak village and covering an area of 1000 square meters, it is some 200 meters long and 50 meters wide. The plan of the castle follows the shape of the mountain. Its 4 meter-thick walls are made of stone, fired bricks and mortar.
With a width of 3 meters, the entrance is located on the southern edge of the building.
The castle features a small pool decorated with turquoise tile-work; and numerous barrel-drains allowed water of a spring to enter it and exit through asewage. The castle was habitable from early 6th to 7th century AH.
Chehel-Dar Castle
Overlooking Veresk bridge, near the village by the same name, atop a mountain leading to the precipices from three sides and having a rectangular plan, it is 450 meters long and 110 meters wide. The construction is made of stone and mortar.
Several fired bricks were found inside the castle, indicating that it had many brick buildings in the past.Covering an area of 100 square meters, its entrance is located on the southern edge of the monument.
The remains of the planks resting on the walls, indicate that the castle had several stories.Facing southward, there are numerous windows, used for shooting. Several stone cylindrical towers stood in the building, strengthening its structure. This castle and many others in Savadkooh, belonged to the Bavand family.
According to the found pieces of pottery, it was in use from the end of the Sassanid period to 6-7th centuries AH. (Registration No.: 11345)
The old District of Alasht
It is located in Savadkooh, Alasht city, 40Km away from the city center. (Registration No.: 867)
Tomb Tower of Pir Shahryar, Lamzar village
According to chronicles, this monument features a carved wooden door and a funerary case. The inscription of the case bears the poems of two poets from the Alborz mountain range, by the names of Sheikh Soltan Baloo Kia Soltan – one of the dervishes of Tabarestan – and Darvish Mohammad Shahryar, the devoted dervish. They lived in an interval of 170 to 200 years.
In addition it gives the date of construction (Moharram, 880 AH, when Darvish Mohammad Shahryar ruled in this area).
He was one of the grandsons of the Bavand dynasty in Shahryar- Kooh.
Built on a rock, this tomb tower is a cylindrical construction with a twin-shelled dome.Dating back to the 9th century AH, its inner walls are adorned with stucco carvings. The tower is 3.20 meters thick and 2.20 meters high.
The grave of this monument was carved in a rock. The remains of some tiles indicate that the dome was probably decorated with tile-work.
Tomb Tower of Aqa Shahbaloo Zahed
Located in an old graveyard near Dehmiyan village, overlooking a branch of Talar river, it is called Shahbaloo, “Kheneh-vā” or “Khaneqa”. It is an octagonal construction crowned by an octagonal conical and twin-shelled dome inspired from the architecture of the 9th century AH.
According to written sources and its inscription, it is the burial place of Sheikh-ol-Jalil Motabe‘-ol-Khalil Qotb-ol Maleh Vaddin-ol Hassan Ebn-e Mohammad, famous as Balooyeh. Its gravestone and case was rebuilt upon the order of ‘Emad-ol-Molook Sohrab Mazandarani and Rostam Ebn-e Shahr Velash in 633 AH.
A mosque exists near the tomb tower which was built at a later date. Housing two panels, its inscription bears the date of construction (907 AH) and gives the name of the commissioner (Shoja‘-oddin Aqa Sohrab Ebn-e Aqa Rostam Rooz-Afrooz) and carpenter (Mohammad Ebn-e Ostad Hossein Najjar Sareni).(Registration No.: 1642)
Historic Road of Sar-Tangeh
Located along the Khatirkooh-Shahmirzad road, near Talar river, it was carved in a mountain and was made of stone and mortar. This road is 1.80 meters wide and 4 meters high.
Dating back to the Islamic period, it was built on the remains of an older road. Today, approximately 50 meters of this road has remained intact.
Okhovvat Graveyard
Located along the Firoozkooh road, between Do-Ab and Pol Sefid, the northern railway was built from 1927 to 1940. Following the construction of tunnel No. 6, located in Do-Ab, some of the workers died and were buried in this place.
A commemorative stone tower was built by Mr. Loncher, the German engineer.
Its inscription bears this text: “To the workers of railway, Iran, Do-Ab…… as a souvenir, by Loncher.”
Watchtower of Shervin Bavand
Located on the Pol-e Sefid-Veresk road, at the beginning of Vassi-sar village road,near a stream, atop a rock.Having an octagonal plan, each of its sides is 1.50 meters long.Access to the tower is gained from the north and several windows are located on its eastern, southern and northern sides. Housing numerous battlements, it was made of stone, mortar and cement.Dating back to the end of the Sassanid period, the monument was restored several times in the Islamic period, especially during the reign of the Bavand dynasty.This watchtower was destroyed by an earthquake in 1957 AD and was later restored by Shervin Bavand, after whom it was named. (Registration No.: 11533)
Veresk Bridge
Spanning the Veresk valley, it is located in the ‘Abbasabad district, in the Savadkooh area. With a height of 110 meters, the bridge features a 66-meter long arch. Having a length of 73.20 meters, it is one of the most important technical-engineering constructions in the northern Iranian railway.(Registration No.: 1534)
Urim Railway Bridge
Located near Urim village, it is one of the most important railway bridges after Veresk bridge.It features 11 spans with a length of 5 meters and a 60- meter long arch. (Registration No.: 13090)
Baloo Bridge
Located along the Shirgah-Zirab road, near Talar river, it was made of fired bricks and mortar.The main part of this bridge was destroyed because of breaking, and now two herring-bone-shaped arches remained intact. One of them is 3 meters wide and 4.75 meters high and another is 4.5 meters wide and 5.50 meters high. According to its architectural features, it probably dates back to before the Safavid period.(Registration No.: 11532)
Shah ‘Abbasi Bridge
Erected approximately under the Veresk railway bridge, in the village by the same name, it consists of two parts connected completely. Made of stone and mortar, the earlier one dates back to the Safavid period. Lying north and south, this bridge was widened in the Pahlavi I period. Facing eastward, the Safavid bridge features two water breakers. It was 6.20 meters wide and now, it is 10.20 meters wide including the new one.The bridge is 10.20 meters long and 7.70 meters high. Both of two bridges house a herring-bone-shaped arch and bear features of Pahlavi and Safavid architecture.(Registration No.: 1534)
Javarem Bridge
Located along the Shirgah-Zirab road, near the forest, it spans a branch of Talar river.With a height of 14 meters, this bridge features a herring-bone-shaped arch. It is made of stone and mortar. The exterior facade is decorated with quadrangular cut stones.
There are 6 bridges across the Shah ‘Abbasi road, between two villages of Veresk and Beshel, all of which date back to the Safavid period.
Shirgah Bridge
Located in Shirgah, on the Shah ‘Abbasi historic road, which connected Ashraf (Behshahr) to Esfahan, and dating back to the Safavid period, this bridge spans Kassiliyan river.
With a height of 57 meters and a width of 6 meters, it is a two-spanned bridge made of fired brick, mortar and plaster.
It features a big arch on the northern side and a herring-bone-shaped one on the southern side.(Registration No.:3662)
Shahpour Bridge
Erected on the Shirgah-Qaemshahr road, it features two herring-bone-shaped arches of different sizes and numerous triangular wave-breakers, strengthening its structure.
The bridge was made of stone and mortar. Dating back to the Safavid period, it is 29.70 meters long and 7 meters wide.(Registration No.: 3661)
Se-Khat-Tala
Three parts of the railway from Tehran to the north of Iran run parallel together in three different heights, 3Km of the Veresk-Gadook road. It is one of the most important technical engineering constructions in the northern Iranian railway, so it was called Se-Khat-Tala (Golden Railway).
Esas Castle
The castle is located at the mountainous area, near Ozoon-Deh village and Pol-e Sefid.
Parastook Castle
It is located north of Zirab, near Sorkh-Kola village. The castle was made of stones and mortar.
Old Bath of Esboo-Kola Village
It is located 20Km of Shirgah.
Old Bath of Faramarz-Kola Village
It is located 10Km of Shirgah.
Tekieh of Bayeʻ-Kola Village
Located 10Km of Pol-e Sefid, it is an old Tekieh of the erea. There are a lot of local beliefs about this place.
Historical Tower of Lamzar village
The ancient tower is located 8Km of Pol-e Sefid.
Bath and Building of ʻAli Mohammad Khan
The bath and Building of ʻAli Mohammad Khan are located 30Km of Pol-e Sefid, in Bernet village.
